Glodis cleared of ethics allegations

Monday

Apr 1, 2013 at 8:00 AMApr 1, 2013 at 3:12 PM

By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The state Ethics Commission today ruled in favor of former Worcester County Sheriff Guy W. Glodis over alleged violations of state ethics laws, deciding evidence in the case failed to prove he released a jail prisoner to a work release program on behalf of a campaign donor.

The ruling in the case follows a two-day evidentiary hearing that was held last November and brings to an end a lengthy ethics investigation that arose over the October 2009 placement of Joseph T. Duggan III on a work release program after a request for the placement was made by his employer, businessman David G. "Duddie" Massad.

In its decision, the commission found that its enforcement division - which brought the allegations - failed to prove that Mr. Glodis, the top official at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction, knowingly used or attempted to use his position to provide unwarranted privilege to Mr. Duggan or Mr. Massad.

In reaching the decision, the commission found that three jail employees who were involved in recommending and approving Mr. Duggan's release testified that they had not discussed the placement with Mr. Glodis or Special Sheriff Jeffrey Turco, who oversaw day-to-day operation of the jail.

"Based on the evidence in the record, we find that petitioner has not met its burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that Glodis used or attempted to use his official position as sheriff to direct one or more of his subordinates to place Duggan on work release," reads the decision.

"Therefore the Commission determined that there was no evidence that Glodis participated in placing Duggan on work release."

The commission determined the placement.was warranted because the charges Mr. Duggan was sentenced for were non-violent offenses and because of jail over-crowding.

The commission said the placement came after Mr. Duggan was found guilty of larceny and sentenced to 28 months at the jail. At the time Mr. Duggan was the project manager for construction of Mr. Massad's automobile showroom in Auburn and Mr. Massad agreed to pay $18,000 in restitution on Mr. Duggan's behalf.

It also documented a series of telephone calls between Mr. Massad and Mr. Glodis and found that Mr. Massad, a longtime contributor to Mr. Glodis' political campaigns, asked Mr. Glodis to put Mr. Duggan on work release.

Mr. Duggan was placed on work release to work for Mr. Massad the day after reporting to the jail for his sentence.

Mr. Glodis testified he did not recall any telephone conversation with Mr. Massad regarding Mr. Duggan.

Mr. Glodis, in an interview today, said he was pleased with the outcome and glad to see the investigation end, but asserted the allegations stemmed from what he said was excessive media coverage of the case by the Telegram & Gazette.